Overseeding For A Thicker Lawn
Its only logical a thicker lawn requires more grass. Overseeding can make all the difference, so long as the lawn has been properly prepared. Once the soil has been tested, the grass dethatched, and the lawn aerated, you are ready to overseed.
Keep in mind that timing is everything the right time to overseed will depend on your variety of grass.
| Cool-season Grass | Wait until early fall to overseed. This is grass most active growing season, and the warm soil from the summer months creates an ideal environment for germination. |
| Warm-season Grass | When growing grass in a warmer climate, wait until later in the fall or even early winter. Make sure there are 45 days before the first frost. |
When choosing your seed, you do not necessarily have to choose the exact same seed as your current lawn. As long as the new seed will work well with the existing lawn, is non-invasive, and the right variety for your environment, it will do. As the entire process of overseeding can take some time and effort, be sure to invest in a top-quality seed and get it right the first time.
Spreading seed is made easy with the help of an inexpensive lawn spreader. Spread the seed according to the instructions on the seed package. Mixing the seed with sawdust will ensure more even distribution. Different varieties of seed will require different ratios. You can check out the seeding rate per 1000 square feet in the picture below.
Pro Strategies For Thicker Greener Grass
For many Central and Southern Maryland homeowners, a green grass shows they care for and have pride in their properties.
In summers heat, its especially important to do all of the things all year long that contribute to a lawns health. Because, as the pros know, you cant do just one thing to nurture a thick lawn. A mix of the right strategies is necessary when it comes to how to make grass greener.
How To Make Your Lawn Thicker Weed Control
Maybe youre looking out at your lawn and thinking, you know, it looks pretty thick. Its fine.
Wait. Those are weeds. Ugh.
When weeds take over your lawn, theres not enough room for your grass to grow nice and thick.
The trick is to battle weeds before they appear. Its called pre-emergent, and its a crucial part of weed control.
Pre-emergent weed control is designed to target the weed seeds before they sprout.
Crabgrass is a great example of the need for pre-emergent.
Its crucial to apply crabgrass pre-emergent in early spring to target those weed seeds as they germinate and take root in the soil so they dont become more seed-producing plants.
But weeds are sneaky and tough, and some sneak through despite your best efforts.
Enter post-emergent products. They kill weeds once they already exist in their dastardly leafy form.
Weed control isnt a one-time thing. Its actually a continuous process.
Different lawn weeds here in Wisconsin and Minnesota are active at different times of the year. Many of the peskiest spring weeds actually germinate in the fall.
Thats why you need a complete, proactive lawn care program that includes both weed preventative and curative treatments from early spring to late fall.
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How To Make Grass Thicker Fuller And Greener
I promised earlier to show you the secrets your neighbors are using to get that full, green lawn you envy.
What makes these secrets even the more interesting is that they are not hidden they are something you probably already know.
Without further ado, here is what you must do to get that full lawn of your dreams.
Apply An Iron Supplement
If your Bermuda grass turf stays yellowish rather than green even after watering it once a week, the grass is most likely nutrient deficient. Chlorosis, which causes grass blades to become yellow, can be treated with an iron supplement.
To make Bermuda grass grow greener, apply an iron supplement like Ironite to the lawn. For grassed areas, iron is a color-enhancing nutrient. It aids in the formation of chlorophyll the green pigment in plants leaves by aiding in chlorophyll synthesis.
Ironite does not act as a fertilizer, so youll need to apply a well-balanced fertilizer to your lawn after it has been treated with Ironite. You may use a 2-in-1 fertilizer like Milorganite to feed and green up Bermuda grass quickly.
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How To Get A Thicker Weed
For many people, a well-kept lawn is a source of great pride and satisfaction. However, maintaining a weed-free, lush lawn also can be a great deal of work unless you practice a few guidelines on a regular basis. Even if the blades on your lawn are a bit thin right now and/or the weeds are competing with the grass, with a little patience and dedication, you can revive your lawn naturally without the need for toxic herbicides and fertilizers.
How to get thicker grass If you follow these suggestions, you can expect to see a more lush lawn beginning in a few months, depending on which part of the year you begin and where you live.
In the fall, aerate your lawnBuy or borrow a hand-held core aerator. Before you set out on your mission, water your lawn thoroughly. Take the aerator and remove plugs from your lawn. This task increases the amount of oxygen as well as water and nutrients that reach the roots.
Apply grass seed Purchase grass seed that is the same variety as the one already in your yard. If you are unsure, check with a lawn expert or your local agricultural cooperative. Apply the seed over your entire lawn and water thoroughly. If you are starting a lawn, be sure to choose a grass that is suitable for your climate that doesnt need a lot of water.
Remove thatch regularly An accumulation of thatch can choke out healthy grass. If you have a small lawn, a hand thatch rake can do the trick. Otherwise, there are power rakes available.
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Feed Your Lawn With 4
The best times to really push your lawn to grow thicker and get a beautiful lush green look is spring and early summer.
This timing is usually the best especially for lawns with Bermuda grass. So, feed it with enough fertilizer to grow as fast as it can.
- Do a soil test to determine the low-level nutrient.
- Apply adequate general purpose fertilizer NPK in the ratio of 4:1:2 or a 16-4-8 is great for pushing Bermuda growth and spread.
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Healthy plants require fertilizer with the three elements in the ratio of 4:1:2. So, before you start applying anything on your lawn, start by testing the soil. If low fertilizer levels are causing your lawn to appear thin, then you know it is time to apply fertilizer.
The benefit of applying adequate fertilizer is that it stops disease, weeds, and make your lawn more drought-resistant.
Most lawns with Bermuda grass start to thin out when theres a drought. You can prevent this by ensuring your lawn grows as dense as possible prior to that season.
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Make Your Lawn Thicker With Aeration And Seeding
Maybe you feel like youre doing everything right, but your lawn still isnt thick.
It might need aeration and seeding.
When your soil becomes compacted, your lawn can’t breathe. Its roots can’t take in water or nutrients. Its trying to be thick, honest, but its spending too much time gasping.
Aeration is a process in which a machine is used to pull out plugs of soil, creating spaces so that air and water can penetrate, which leads to healthier roots. Healthier roots make for a healthier, thicker lawn, better able to resist pests and diseases, and tolerate summers heat and drought.
Aeration is often followed by overseeding, as the holes created by aeration are perfect new homes for the grass seed.
Its a great one-two punch to make your lawn thicker.
Remove Any Weeds Dead Plants & Other Debris
Before beginning any lawn re-growth maintenance work, you need to make sure your area is clear of all weeds, dead or dying plants, and other debris that would get in the way.
When removing weeds by hand, make sure you pull out the entire root of the plant, or it will just grow back and spread. Using a weeding tool can help you get down to the robust and sturdy weed roots.
When removing weeds with a weed killer, make sure you carefully follow the instructions to prevent damage to any other plants.
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What To Do When Youve Got Dry Patches Caused By Pests Or Fungi
Unfortunately, this one is a little more complicated. Dozens of pests and fungi can affect the health of your lawn, and will likely need a professional to help you uncover the cause of these problems. Once youve identified the specific issues affecting your yard, you can take the right steps to eliminate or mitigate these pests and fungi.
If How To Make The Grass Thicker Sounds Complicated Let Us Remove The Guesswork
While we tried to simplify these methods into 4 categories, we understand that its complicated. Each category has its own set of nuances and best practices that must be followed in order to achieve the results youre after. We get it and honestly, thats also why people tend to turn to a professional. Not only does it mean better products and better practices, it also means no guesswork on your end. That adds up to better results and less headaches.After all, at the end of the day, you dont hire Oasis Turf & Tree to get rid of your weeds or to make your lawn thickeryou hire us to take away your worries. While we certainly do those things, people value us most for figuring out what their lawn needs so they dont have to. Ready to learn about professional lawn care services from Oasis Turf & Tree for your Cincinnati, Dayton, Ohio, or Northern Kentucky home? Request your quote, choose the lawn care program thats right for you, and then sit back and relax as the pros take away your worries and help you get the lawn of your dreams!
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What Causes A Thin Lawn
A thin, sparse-looking lawn can be caused by a wide variety of factors. These include:
- Improper mowing practices
- Damage from weather extremes such as drought
- Damage from wear and tear
The first step is to determine which factor is causing problems in your lawn. It may be one or a combination of a few factors which are making your lawn thin.
Signs of drought include grass wilting and browning off, and leaving footprints when you walk on the lawn. Nutrient deficiencies can be determined by conducting a soil test on your lawn. Compacted soil will feel hard, and the grass will have shallow, thin roots as they are unable to penetrate the hard soil. Diseases or infestations will show up in brown grass, bare patches or spots on the grass.
Getting Started Creating A Beautiful Lawn
As the old saying goes, the first step in solving a problem is admitting there is one. Luckily, yard problems are usually pretty easy to identify. A visual inspection is often a good indicator that your lawn needs some help.
If your lawn lacks the thickness, vibrancy, and consistent colour it should have, several problems could be the cause. Some of these problems are simple fixes, while some may need more attention and care.
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How To Deal With Grass In Summer Heat
The dog days of summer are a constant worry for homeowners, as just a few days without rain can really impact a once-lush lawn. Then theres the heat to contend with!
We cant give you any tips for how to stay cool yourself in the summer heat, but we can provide some recommendations to help support your grass:
- Use appropriate mowing techniques. Longer grass will help to shade the roots and prevent any harmful exposure to the sun. This will also help the roots of the grass grow deeper, thus outcompeting weeds and creating a denser turf. That said, use a blade height of about four inches in summer, mow less frequently, and mow earlier in the day.
- Avoid watering in the heat of the day, choose early morning or late evening instead. Keep in mind that your lawn will need about one inch of water a weekbut it can tolerate about half an inch every 14-days, depending on water restrictions in your area .
How to keep grass green in a drought?
If youre starting from scratch, youre in luck. Its easy to find drought-resistant and fast-growing grass seeds, especially like the fescues we mentioned earlier. These grasses establish themselves quickly, dont require a lot in the way of maintenance, and are one of our best bets for having a green lawneven in periods of drought.
If youre not starting out with a new lawn, however, there are still some things you can do to keep your grass green during drought :
What If I Want A Green Lawn From Scratch
When sowing a lawn from seed, the intended use and desired look of the lawn will determine the most appropriate seed mix to use. A lawn that needs to withstand heavy wear and some neglect should contain a high proportion of the tough, broad-bladed ryegrass. For a finer, more refined lawn use a seed mix without ryegrass.
The ideal time to sow seed is September when the soil is still warm, yet moist so choose a calm day with light rain forecasted. When sowing, make sure the surface is weeded, raked and level, this is the only opportunity to get it right. When laying a lawn using turves, make sure you get the soil preparation right. It should be cleared of weeds, then forked, raked, firmed and levelled.
Seed MixesFor a formal lawn 80% Chewings fescue, 20% Browntop bent
For a utility lawn 40% Smooth stalked meadow grass, 30% Chewings fescue, 20% Creeping red fescue, 10% Browntop bent
For a tough, hardwearing lawn 35% Perennial ryegrass, 30% Chewings fescue, 25% Smooth stalked meadow grass, 10% Browntop bent
With these restorative tips for year-round lawn care you can ensure your grass is thick, thriving and full of life all year round. Sorting out your lawn can seem like a mammoth task but with regular maintenance you can keep the time spent tending to your lawn to a minimum, without sacrificing the health of the grass.
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Get Your Mower In Shipshape
Dull mower blades tear off grass rather than cutting it clean, leaving ragged tips that invite disease to set in. Holding the blade in a vise, sharpen it with long, smooth strokes using a Dremel blade sharpener or a 10-inch bastard mill file, following the manufacturer’s instructions for the proper angle. During the growing season, sharpen the blade after you’ve used your mower for about 8 to 12 hours.
Start With A Good Base
A thick lawn starts with great soil, so do the preparation before you even think about establishing the grass. The best place to start is with a soil test a simple process that gives a big return in terms of thick, healthy grass. A soil test takes the guesswork out of soil preparation, and allows you to accurately address any issues in your soil. For example, if your soil pH is too low, the grass wont be able to absorb the nutrients it needs to grow thick and strong. Correctly addressing the problem will restore pH balance and nutrient availability so that the grass can grow well.
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How To Make Bermuda Grass Thicker
Bermuda grass is one of the most popular types of lawns in America. Its low-maintenance, easy to grow and it doesnt need much water either! However, not all Bermuda grasses are created equal. Some varieties can be more difficult to maintain than others can. The reason for this difference in growth rate has to do with the thickness of the blades themselves.
Thin blades mean that your Bermuda will require less time to mow, but they also allow weeds to grow through them easier.
So what should you do if you want a thicker Bermuda grass lawn? Here are some tips on how you can do it with minimum effort and costs.
Feed Your Bermuda Grass Lawn Properly
The greatest times to really thicken your grass and get a gorgeous lush green appearance are in the spring and early summer. This is when Bermuda grass will be growing the most quickly.
A well-balanced fertilizer thats high in nitrogen and low in phosphorus and potassium should be used . Too much of either nutrient can actually inhibit growth, so its important to find good middle ground.
Fertilize your lawn every 6 weeks during this time period more frequently if you live in an area with a lot of rainfall. Avoid overfertilizing, as this can also damage the grass.
This is generally the optimum timing, especially for lawns with Bermuda grass. Fertilizing at this time will help to stimulate growth and encourage the thickening of your lawn.
You can either use a store-bought fertilizer or make your own .
Consider applying enough fertilizer to help the grass blades grow as quickly as possible:
- Examine the soil for low-level nutrients with a soil test
- Try to use a common fertilizer with the correct NPK ratio of 4:1:2
If you want to raise the quality of your lawn, or simply wish to make it greener, add a fertilizer with the three components in the proportion of 4:1:2.
Additionally, before you apply anything to your grass, test the soil. This will help you determine what kind of fertilizer to use and how much. If low fertilizer levels are causing your grass to appear sparse, use another product.
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